Yeah, We're Back

Grace London moved to L.A. but we'll be welcoming her back for the occasional show.

I'm not going to go on about the hundreds of bands that you the Austin teen needs to check out, because there are even more than that. The hitch comes in finding "All Ages" venues as well as actual teen shows in the Live Music Capital of the World.

You won't find many teens playing the Austin City Limits Music Festival, while Fun Fun Fun Fest books only one U18 act a year. (Hey, it's a start!) While some Austin clubs allow underage attendees, others charge a cover or even double even when the show's free for those 21 and over. Fortunately, Jax, Stubbs, and the Mohawk have “All Ages” shows.

The Whip In (1950 IH35) truly gets the need for a local teen scene that the 'rents approve of. It’s one of the hippest of all "All Ages" venues, serving delicious Indian food and artisanal beer for the over 21 set, as well as organic root beer and French fries for the U18. The Whip In also hosts the “Proper Nang Night” series, which started this summer. Expect the best of Austin's U18 bands at the shows, with ringers like Little Brave and Curtis McMurtry also popping in.

Upcoming U18 shows:

• Back-to-school Proper Nang Nights at the Whip In, Tue., Aug. 21, and Sat., Sept. 1
• East End Fourth Friday by Diverse Arts at Kenny Dorham's Backyard (1106 E. 11th), Fri., Aug. 24
• Back-to-School Party at Jax, Sat., Aug. 25.

We also send a sincere fare-thee-well to Grace London, who lit up the teen scene here the last few years and now moves on to Los Angeles. Don't worry, she'll be back for the occasional show. You can catch her partner in crime from Little Galaxy, Ramona Beattie, at some Proper Nang Nights.